Internal-drive rear axle



Patented J une 3, 1919.

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F. H. FARMER.

INTERNAL DRIVE REAR AXLE.

APPLmATIoN mw ma, 23, 19m.

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so far as the present invention is concerned, thisl particular construction may be varied to any extent desired.

il driving axle shaft 12 extends through cach axle tube and serves as the means by which motion is transmitted from the differential mechanism to the driving mechanism of the associated wheel. At its inner end each axle shaft is formed with longitudinally extended splines 12a which interlock with similar splines 37 in the associated gear 35 when the axle shaft end is inserted into said gear. Near its outer end this shaft is formed with other longitudinally extended splines 12, and these interlock and establisli a driving relation with similar splines 24 in the inner wall of the longitudinal hole which passes entirely through a pinion 22. This pinion is formed with hubs 23 at its ends` and these hubs are mounted by means of annular ball bearings 25 and 26 on the axle frame structure, so that said pinion is within the gear cage and is in mesh with the intermediate gear 1G Iand coaxial with the wheel.

W'hen the splined portions of this axle shaft are in engagement with the gear 35, and with the tubular pinion 22, then rotary motion, imparted to the differential drum, will be transmitted from the gear 35 through the axle shaft 12 to the pinion 22, and thence through the intermediate gear 16 to the ring gear 49 and the wheel 40 to which said ring gear is secured.

There is a central hub plate 44 which is removably fixed to the outer plate 41 of the wheel. The axle shaft 12 is of such dianicteiv in all of its parts that when this hub plate is removed the axle shaft may be pulled endwise outwardly and wholly removed if that is desired, through the pinion 22 and that hole in the outer plate of the wheel which is uncovered by the removal of the hub plate 44.

lVhen this axle shaft has been Aso removed, either completely or to such an extent as causes the disengagement of its inner end from the gear 35, no obstacle remains to the removal from the differential housing oi" said differential mechanism, either as a unit or in a knocked down condition, depending upon tlie character of the diilerential mechanism described. Nor does the complete or partial removal of either or both of the axle shafts require or cause any disturbance of the operative relation of any of the other parts of the mechanism described. The axle will remain supported by the wheels; and it may in turn su port the vehicle frame. When it is desire to restablish the driving connection between the differential mechanism and a Wheel the axle shaft is assed endwise inward through the hole in t e outer plate of the wheel, through the hole in the outer hub 8 of the gear casthrough the tubular pinion 22, through the axle tube, and into the gear 35. This havin been done, the plate 44 is secured over t ie hole in the outer side of the wheel. 'l his plate has on its inner face a thickened boss which lies close to the outer end of the axle shaft, and therefore any such outward movement of the axle shaft as might disenga e it from the gear 35 will be prevented.

{aving described my invention, I claim: 1. In an internal drive rear axle structure, the combination of a hollow axle frame member having a portion which serves as a gear housing, two alined axle tubes which extend in opposite directions from said gear housing, an a tubular gear cage ri `id with the outer end of each axle tube, di erential mechanism mounted in said ear housing, a removable cover plate for said gear housing, and, associated with each axlevtube, a wheel which is rotatably su ported by said axle frame member on bot sides of said gear cage, a (zo-axial tubular pinion rotatably mounted in said gear cage, an axle shaft which is of such diameter that it may pass through said tubular pinion, and which has longitudinal s lined connection with said pinion and wit the differential mechanism, and a removable hub plate which forms a part of the outer wall of the wheel.

2. In an internal drive rear axle structure, the combination of a hollow axle frame 'member having as parts thereof a laterally extended axle tube and a tubular gear cage which is rigid with the outer end of said axle tube and which has on its outer face a coaxial tubular boss, a wheel which has a central chamber which contains Said gear cage which wheel is rotatably supported by said axle tube inside said gear cage and by said tubular boss outside the gear cage, a coaxial tubular pinion rotatably mounted in said ear cage, an internal ring gear fixed to t e wheel within said chamber, an intermediate gear mounted in the gear cage in mesh with said inion and ring gear, and an axle shaft which extends through the axle tube and through said pinion and has when in operative position an interlocking spline engagement with the latter.

3. In an internal drive rear axle, the oombination of the axle tube which forms a part of a hollow axle frame member thereof, a gear cage which is at and rigid with the outer end of said axle tube and which has an outwardly extended tubular boss on its outer side, a wheel which embraces said gear cage and has one bearing upon the axle tube inside said gear cage and one upon the tubular boss on said gear ca e, an internal ring gear secured within sai wheel, an intermediate gear mounted in the gear cage in mesh with said gear, and a tubular pinion which is rotatably mounted on the gear cage ing,

coaxially with said Wheel, an axle shaft In testimony Wl1ereof,I hereunto ax my which is movable through said Pinion, and signature. which, when in operative position, has an FRANK H. FARMER.

interlocking splined connection therewith, Witnesses: and means engaging the inner end of said H. C. MCGOEY, axle section for rotatlng 1t. A. OSTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

